Hypodermic needle



March 12, 1963 B. FRIEDMAN HYPODERMIC NEEDLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 7, 1961 B. FRIEDMAN HYPODERMIC NEEDLE March 12, 1963 Filed July 7, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. BENJAMIN FRIEDMAN HTI'ORNE Y March 12, 1963 B. FRIEDMAN HYPODERMIC NEEDLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 7, 1961 ww/ w ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,080,866 4 HYPODERMIC NEEDLE Benjamin Friedman, 1064 Victory Blvd.,

Staten Island, N.Y. Filed July 7, 1961, Ser. No. 122,510 17 Claims. (Cl. 128218) This is a continuation in part of my co-pending application Serial No. 331,616, filed January 16, 1953, and now abandoned, for Hypodermic Needle.

This invention relates to syringes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a syringe which can be loaded at both top and bottom with a conventional cartridge or ampule containing a rubber plunger, means being provided for connecting the syringe piston rod in a releasable manner to ditierently constructed rubber plungers contained in the cartridge.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a syringe of the above type which includes novel means for releasably connecting the syringe needle to the bottom of the syringe.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a syringe of the above type which includes novel means for connecting an auxiliary member to the bottom of the syringe to permit the injection of the contents of a cartridge within the syringe proper into a second cartridge contained within said auxiliary member.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a syringe of the above type wherein the only part necessary to sterilize is the syringe needle itself.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a syringe of the above type wherein mean are provided for permitting air to escape from a second cartridge contained Within an auxiliary member upon the injection thereinto of the contents of a first cartridge contained within the syringe proper.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a syringe of the above type including a novel needle adapter having a removable outer part which can be used over again with different needles, effecting thereby an economy in the replacement of adapter parts. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a syringe of the above type including a novel needle adapter integrally formed with the bottom syringe closure member, said adapter and closure member being formed of plastic and being provided as a sterilized accessory to the cartridge. This plastic adapter will be less expensive to manufacture than conventional metal ones and can be discarded after each injection.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved syringe of the above type having a main tube formed of glass.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a syringe of the above type which is devoid of any hinges or springs, thereby increasing the life of the instrument.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved syringe of the above type having a main tube formed of glass, calibrated to permit visual measurement of the contents, and which includes a novel metal bottom closure permanently secured to the bottom of the main glass tube, this closure member releasably receiving a simplified needle and adapter. This closure member and adapter are less expensive to manufacture than conventional parts and permit a simplified operation of the syringe.

Other objects of the invention are to provide -a syringe bearing the above objects inrnind which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, will have long life, is easy to operate and efiicien-t in use.

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For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention reference will be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which, 6

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a syringe embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 2-21ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the auxiliary member containing a second cartridge in operative engagement therewith;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional View taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a cartridge adapted to be used with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the auxiliary member show-n alone and partly broken away to show the interior construction thereof;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view of a modified type of rubber insert in operative engagement with the piston rod of the syringe;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional View of a modified type of bottom closure member and needle adapter adapted to be used with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing a still further modified type of bottom closure and needle adapter;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a differently sized body portion for receiving a smaller cartridge therein;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a modified type of syringe having a glass body;

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 12-.12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 but showing a modified form of piston rod therein, now formed entirely of glass; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the syringe shown in FIG. 11 but showing the auxiliary member in operative engagement therewith.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, in which similarreference numerals identify corresponding par-ts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a syringe, referred to collectively as 10, and including a hollow cylindrical tube 11 having an enlarged lower portion 11, substantially as illustrated.

The upper end of tube 11 is externally threaded as at 12 while the enlarged bottom portion 11' is internally threaded as at.13. The tube 11 intermediate the threaded portion 12 and the enlarged portion 11 is provided on opposite sides with a pair of elongated slots 14 and 15, the slot 14 continuing downwardly to the enlarged portion 11' as at 16.

A sleeve 17 having a lonurled portion 18 and an inwardly flared portion 19 is provided, the portion 19 being internally threaded as at 20 and adapted to be screwed onto the threaded portion 12 of tube 11, substantially as illustrated. The knurled portion 18 of sleeve 17 is internally threaded as at 21 and receives therewithin a sleeve 22 having a correspondingly externally threaded portion 23, the bottom end of threaded portion 23 abutting the upper end of threaded portion 12. The sleeve 22 at its upper end is provided with a knurled enlargement 24, internally threaded as at 25, and a smooth portion 26 intermediate the enlargement 24 and the threaded portion 23-, this smooth portion having substantially the same outside diameter as the outside diameter of threaded portion 23-.

A ring 27 is rotatably mounted on smooth portion 26 intermediate enlargements 18 and 2.4, and is integrally formed on opposite sides with finger engaging portions 28.

A bearing member 29 is provided and consists of a smooth lower portion 36, an enlarged, intermediate portion 31 externally threaded and adapted to be screwed into threaded portion 25, and a smooth, narrow neck 32-, the latter terminating in a knurled portion 33. This bearing member 29 is provided with an internal bore 34 within the portions 32 and 33 communicating with an internal bore 35 within the portions 30 and 31, as shown in FIG. 2, the diameter of bore 35 being larger than bore 34 whereby to provide a shoulder 36.

A piston rod 37 slides within bore 34, the upper end thereof being externally threaded as at 38 to receive thereon a correspondingly internally threaded cap 39, the latter being pressed downwardly by the thumb and cooperating with the finger engaging portions 28 to move the rod 37 downwardly into tube 11. The lower end of rod 37 is externally threaded as at 40. The threaded portion 40 is integrally formed with an externally threaded extension 41 of lesser diameter than the portion 40, the extension 41 and the adjacent portion of threaded portion 40 being provided with an internally threaded bore 42. A knurled sleeve 43 is adjustable along threaded portion 40 by means of a correspondingly internally threaded bore, the sleeve 43 being slidably received within bore 35, as shown in FIG. 2.

A bot-tom closure member 45 is provided, and consists of a hollow, cylindrical top socket or recess portion 44, an enlarged, externally threaded portion 46, a knurled enlargement 47, a relatively narrow, externally threaded portion 48 and a cylindrical bottom portion 49, the latter being provided with an inwardly flared bore 50 communieating with an internally threaded bore 51 within the portion 46, as shown in FIG. 2, the externally threaded portion 46 screwing into the internally threaded portion 13 of enlargement 11'. Threaded bore 51 communicates with an axial through opening 51a connecting said bore with the socketed portion 44.

A glass cartridge 52 having a neck 53 and an outwardly flanged mouth 54, the latter being closed by an aluminum foil cap 55, is filled with physiological salt solution 56, the other open end of the cartridge 52 being closed by a rubber piston or insert 57. A penetrable diaphragm 91 contacts the lower face of mouth 54 and is clamped to the cartridge by said cap 55 which is crirnped at its upper end around the outwardly flanged portion of mouth 54 toward the neck 53. As shown in FIG. 2, the central portion of insert 57 is hollow within a pronged tube 58 imbedded therein, the tube 58 at its inner end terminating short of the inner end of insert 57 and having an enlarged portion 59 at its other end extending to the outer end of insert 57, this portion 59 being internally threaded. The inner end of insert 57 is provided with a conical recess 60 aligned with the end of tube 58 and providing a diaphragm over the inner end thereof. Peripheral grooves 61 are provided on the outer sides of the insert 57 to facilitate its sliding movement within the cartridge 52 in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The cartridge 52, with the insert 57 uppermost, slides up into tube 11, as shown in FIG. 2, until the end of capsule or cartridge 52 abuts the bottom of portion 30 of bearing member 29, permitting the externally threaded extension 41 to be screwed into the internally threaded, enlarged portion 59 of tube 58, thereby securing the insert 57 to the lower end of piston rod 37. In this position, the mouth 54 and cap 55 of the cartridge are supportingly received within the hollow cylindrical portion 44 of bottom closure member 45 when the latter is screwed into the tube 11.

A twin pointed cartridge needle 62 is suitably mounted within an adapter 63, as shown in FIG. 2, the latter having a nipple portion 63", a knurled enlargement 64, an inwardly flared portion 65 adapted to fit into the inwardly flared bore 50 of closure member 45, and an externally threaded upper end 66 adapted to be screwed into the internally threaded bore 51 of member 45. It will be noted that upon screwing the adapter 63 into the closure member 45, the needle 62 will puncture cap 55, permitting physiological salt solution 56 to be injected through needle 62 upon downward movement of piston rod 37 and insert 57, as will be obvious.

It will be noted that the socket 44 is of uniform internal transverse cross-section, that the cap 55 is of uniform outer transverse cross-section, and that said cap has a telescoping, sliding, friction, contacting fit with the inner surface of the socket, longitudinally, at least as far out as the outer tip of the upper end of needle 62 when the threaded portion 66 of hub 63 is fully screwed into the threaded bore 51 of the bottom closure member 55, to thereby center the cap relative to the socket when the tip of the needle starts to puncture the diaphragm, and to prevent side movement of the cap relative to the socket after puncture and during movement of the cap into the socket.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, and in the further practice of my invention, there is shown a hollow cylindrical member 67, open at both ends, the upper end thereof being internally threaded as at 68 and adapted to be screwed into externally threaded portion 48 of closure member 45. The member 67 on one side is provided with an elongated slot 69 communicating with the lower open end thereof, and on the other side with a relatively short slot 70, also communicating with the lower open end thereof, the portion of member 67 surrounding the inner end of slot 70 being integrally formed with an inwardly or laterally extending flange 71, as shown in FIG. 4.

A second cartridge 52, identical with the first cartridge described above, but now containing penicillin tablet 72 instead of physiological salt solution 56, slides up into the member 67, with the cap 55 uppermost, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, until the latter abuts flange 71, the cartridge being frictionally held in this position by the sides of member 67.

A puncture needle 73 mounted in a plastic knob 74 is provided, the outer end of needle 73 passing completely through the knob 74 to communicate with the atmosphere, as shown in FIG. 4. This needle is inserted through tube 58 of insert 57 to puncture portion 60 of insert 57, permitting air to escape as saline salt solution 56 is injected downwardly to dissolve penicillin in tablet 72. When the lower cartridge 52 is filled with physiological salt solution 56, the tablet 72 will be dissolved. The empty upper cartridge 52 is then removed by unscrewing the bottom closure member 45 and replaced by the bottom cartridge 52 containing the dissolved penicillin. The member 67 is then unscrewed from bottom closure member 45 and the latter screwed back into place within enlargement 11 and the penicillin solution is ready for injection.

It will be noted that due to the fixed connection be tween the piston rod 37 and the insert 57, the syringe 10 may be used for both injection and aspiration, i.e., the insert 57 may be made to work in both directions. This is extremely important because it is necessary to aspirate the area we inject because there is always a possibility of getting the needle into a blood vessel, which is dangerous. By the present construction, you can aspirate to see if the needle is not in a blood vessel, and if not, you can inject directly into the area without changing the position of the syringe. It will also be noted that in the above construction the sleeve 43, which is screwed up to its uppermost position, acts as a seat for the upper end of insert 57, as shown in FIG. 2. The sleeve 43 also serves to retain the piston rod 37 within the bearing member 29, as will be obvious from an inspection of FIG. 2.

It will also be noted that the syringe 10 does not itself have to be sterilized, since the liquid only comes in contact with the needle 62, i.e., the only part which has to be sterilized is the needle 62.

Liquid contained in one ampule cannot be transferred into another ampule or cartridge containing a powder when the latter is sealed at both ends, i.e., it is necessary to permit air to escape. This is achieved in the present construction by tube 58 and the punctured portion 60 of insert 57 resulting from the insertion therethrough of puncture needle 73. Without the above escape of air, the insert 57 would pop out upon downward movement of the piston rod 37, which is the case with cartridges and inserts presently on the market.

The slot 16 permits the observation of any blood in the lower portion of the cartridge during aspiration prior to injection. When no blood is visible through this opening, we know that we are in the proper area for injection without the danger of having the injected solution enter the blood vessels.

It will be noted that the above construction also permits cartridge 52 to be inserted into tube 11 from the top thereof by merely unscrewing the knurled part 33 that has its threads screwed into the threaded part 25 in member 22 (as seen in FIG. 2) permitting the removal of the members 333739 and its associated parts as .a unit, will be obvious. In this case the cap 55 of cartridge 52 would then be forced downward against needle 62, whereupon the members 3337-39 and its associated parts could be screwed back into place. Thus the cartridge 52 can be loaded into tube 11 from both top and bottom. This is particularly advantageous when you wish to inject several cartridges in succession and dont wish to remove the needle 62 from its position at the bottom of the tube.

The puncture needle 73 will be removed by knob 74 after it has served its purpose prior to the injection of solution 56, into the cartridge containing penicillin tablet 72. Referring now particularly to FIG. 7, there is shown a modified tube 58 embedded in insert 57, the tube 58' extending above the upper end of insert 57 in an externally threaded portion 75 which screws into the internally threaded bore 42 at the end of piston rod37. In this case, the sleeve 43 will be adjusted to its lowermost position where it abuts the upper end of insert 57 and providing a seat therefor. Thus the piston rod 37 is adapted to be connected to both forms of inserts and to move the same in bothan upward and downward direction.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 8, there is shown a modification wherein the closure member 45 is provided with a modified portion 49' differing from the portion 49 previously described in the provision of an externally threaded portion 76, the latter being adapted to be screwed into a modified adapter 77. In this case, the portion 76 of closure member 45 is provided with a cylindrical bore 78 communicating with a second cylindrical bore 79 of lesser diameter provided within portions 49' and 48, as shown in FIG. 8. A sleeve consisting of a narrow portion 80 adapted to fit into bore 79 and an en larged portion 81 adapted to fit into bore 78 fixedly carries a twin pointed needle 82, the needle and sleeve being secured within the bores 78 and 79 by a now removable adapter 77 consisting of a knurled portion 83 and a nipple portion 84, the knurled portion 83 having an internally threaded bore 85 adapted to be screwed onto threaded portion 76 of closure member 45, substantially as illustrated in FIG. 8. The advantage of this construction resides in the fact that the needle 82 and its fixedly carried sleeve 80, 81 may be manufactured separately from the adapter 77, permitting the latter to be used over again with different needles 82 and sleeves 80, 81 thereof.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 9, there is shown a modified needle adapter 86 consisting of an enlarged knurled portion 87, a nipple portion 88, an externally tl'i'feaded portion 89 adapted to be screwed to the internally threaded portion of enlargement 11', and a hollow,

cylindrical portion 90 adapted to supportingly receive the cap 55, diaphragm 91 and mouth 54 of cartridge 52, substantially as illustrated. A sleeve 92 fixedly carrying a twin pointed needle 93 is suitably secured within the nipple portion of adapter 86, as shown in FIG. 9, the needle 93 extending upwardly into the portion to puncture the diaphragm 91. The adapter 86 is formed entirely of plastic and also serves as a bottom closure for the tube 11 and enlargement 11' thereof. This modified construction has the advantage over the existing adapters that come with penicillin ampules in that it is inexpensive to manufacture, being made entirely of plastic, except for the needle 93 and sleeve 92, and can he therefore discarded after each injection along with the needle 93 because they come as a unit. At the same time it eliminates the need for a metal portion that fits over the syringe to lock the ampule in place.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 10, there is shown a modified tube 11a diifering from the tube 11 previously described in that the former is of less length to accommodate cartridges of less length. In other respects, this syringe is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and like reference numerals identify like parts in each of the several views.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 11 and d2 there is shown a modified syringe 10 including a hollow, cylindrical glass tube 94 provided at its upper open end with an integrally formed collar 95, substantially as illustrated.

The outside of tube 94 is suitably calibrated with mark ings 96, indicating the contents thereof in cubic centi meters and other units.

The bottom end of tube 94 is provided with a neck 97 and a mouth 98, as shown in FIG. 12.

A sleeve 99 having a knurled portion '100 and an inwardly flared portion 101 is provided, the knurled portion 100 being internally threaded as at 102 while the inner bore of portion \101 is shouldered as at 103, the shoulder 106 abutting the collar 95, substantially as illustrated. The internally threaded portion 102 receives therewithin a sleeve 104 having a correspondingly externally threaded portion 105, the bottom end of threaded portion 105 abutting the upper end of collar 95. The sleeve 104 is provided at its upper end with a knurled enlargement .106, internally threaded as at 107, and a smooth portion 108 intermediate the enlargement 106 and the threaded portion 105, this smooth portion having substantially the same outside diameter as the outside diameter of threaded portion 105.

A ring i109 is rotatably mounted on smooth portion 108 intermediate enlargements 106 and 100, and is integrally formed on opposite sides with finger engaging portions 110.

A bearing member 111 is provided and consists of a smooth lower portion 112, an enlarged intermediate portion 113 externally threaded and adapted to be screwed into the threaded portion 107, and a smooth, narrow neck 114, the latter terminating in a knurled portion 115. This bearing member 111 is provided with an internal bore '116 within the portions 115, 114, 113 and the upper portion of portion 112 communicating with an internal bore 1*17 within the lower portion of portion 112, as

threaded and of a lesser diameter than the threaded portion 122, the extension i123 and the adjacent portion of threaded portion 122 being provided with an internally threaded bore 124. A knurled sleeve 125 is adjustable along the threaded portion 122 by means of a correspondingly internally threaded bore, the sleeve 125 being slidably received within bore 117. A rubber insert 57 slides within cartridge 52 within tube 94 and is identical in construction with that described in connection with FIGSnl and 2.

A bottom closure member 126 is provided, and consists of a hollow, cylindrical top portion 127, an externally threaded portion 128 and a smooth bottom portion 129, the latter being provided with an internally threaded bore [130 communicating with an inwardly flared bore 131 provided within the portion 128, the portion 127 being secured to the mouth 98 of tube 94, substantially as illustrated.

A twin pointed cartridge needle 132 is fixedly mounted within an adapter 133, as shown in FIG. 12, the latter having a nipple portion 134, a knurled enlargement 135, an externally threaded portion 136 adapted to be screwed up into the internally threaded portion 130 of closure member 126 and an inwardly flared upper end 137 adapted to fit into the inwardly flared bore 131 of closure member 126.

The construction of the closure member 126 and the adapter 133 are much simpler than those at present in use, resulting in an economy of manufacturing costs and a simplification in assembling and operation. The assembling and operation of the syringe 10' is otherwise the same as that of syringe 10 previously described, the cartridge 52 being inserted into the tube 94 through its upper end by unscrewing the bearing member 111, the needle 132 puncturing the diaphragm 91 when the cartridge 52 is pressed downwardly within tube 94.

As shown in FIG. 14, the auxiliary member 67 and its associated cartridge 52 containing penicillin tablet 72 may be screwed onto externally threaded portion .128 of bottom closure 126 for the same purpose as described in connection with the all metal syringe -10. It will be appreciated that after injection of physiological salt solution 56 into the cartridge 52 containing the penicillin, the resulting solution may be aspirated back into the uppermost cartridge, it then being only necessary to unscrew auxiliary member 67 and its associated empty cartridge 52 before proceeding with the injection.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 13, there is shown a modified syringe, referred to collectively as 10", and differing from the syringe 10' in the replacement of the bearing member 111 and its associated piston rod 119 with a glass piston 119, the piston 1119' being integrally formed at the top thereof with a cap 121'. The piston 119' fits the glass tube 94, forming a valve seal, permitting fluid to be drawn upwardly into the tube 94.

In other respects, the syringe shown in FIG. 13 is the same as that shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, and like reference numerals identify like parts in each of the several views, except that the needle which is here numbered 132a has only a single point at its lower end and its upper end terminates at the upper end of portion 137.

As shown in FIG. r13, member 126 is formed with axial through opening 13% so that the needle 132a may communicate with the interior of barrel 94.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An asp-irating cartridge syringe comprising a hollow tube, a cartridge within said tube, a sealing diaphragm at the bottom end of said cartridge, a slidable plunger within the top end of said cartridge, bearing means at the upper end of the tube, a piston rod slidable in said bearing means, means on said rod for releasably connecting the plunger to said rod, a bottom closure member at the bottom of said tube, a needle adaptor means carried by said bottom closure member, said needle adaptor means including a double-pointed hollow needle passing upwardly through the bottom closure member for piercing the diaphragm of the cartridge, an auxiliary tube openat both ends and removably carried by said closure member, said auxiliary tube at the upper end thereof receiving said needle adaptor means therewithin, said auxiliary tube at the bottom end thereof receiving and retaining an inverted cartridge having a sealing diaphnagm at the upper end thereof and a plunger at the bottom end thereof with the bottom of said needle piercring said inverted cartridge diaphragm, and hollow puncturing means piercing said inverted cartridge plunger whereby to permit air to escape from said inverted cartridge plunger upon injection through said needle into said inverted cartridge of liquid from the cartridge within said hollow tube.

2. An aspirating cartridge syringe comprising a hollow tube, a cartridge within said tube, a sealing diaphragm at the bottom end of said cartridge a slidable plunger within the top end of said cartridge, bearing means at the upper end of the tube, a piston rod slidable in said bearing means, means on said rod for releasably connecting the plunger to said rod, a bottom closure member at the bottom of said tube, a needle adaptor means carried by said bottom closure member, said needle adaptor means including a double-pointed hollow needle passing upwardly through the bottom closure member for piercing the diaphragm of the cartridge, said bearing means comprising externally threaded means at the upper end of said hollow tube, a first sleeve internally threaded at the bottom portion thereof and screwed onto said externally threaded upper end of said tube, said sleeve being internally threaded at the upper portion thereof, a second sleeve externally threaded at the bottom portion thereof and screwed into said internally threaded upper portion of said first sleeve, said second sleeve at the upper portion thereof being internally threaded, the bottom of said second sleeve abutting the upper end of said tube, a bearing member having an externally threaded intermediate portion screwed into said internally threaded upper portion of said second sleeve, the bottom of said bearing member being adapted to abut the upper end of the cartridge, said bearing member slidably receiving said piston rod.

3. An aspir-ating cart-ridge syringe according to claim 2, said second sleeve at the top thereof having an enlarged head and a smooth portion intermediate said enlarged head and said externally threaded bottom portion, a ring rotatably mounted on said smooth portion intermediate the upper end of said first sleeve and said enlarged head, and finger engaging portions connected to said ring at opposite sides thereof.

4. An aspirating cartridge syringe according to claim 2, said means releasably connecting said plunger and said piston rod comprising said bearing member within said externally threaded intermediate portion [and the bottom portion thereof having an enlarged bore communicating with the bore in the upper end thereof receiving Said piston rod whereby to provide a shoulder within said externally threaded intermediate portion, said piston rod at the bottom end thereof being externally threaded, an internally threaded sleeve adjustable along said externally threaded bottom end of said piston rod, said sleeve being movable within said enlarged bore with the upper end thereof being adapted to abut said shoulder, the bottom end of said sleeve being adapted to abut the upper end of the plunger, an externally threaded extension on the bottom end of said piston rod of less diameter than the externally threaded end thereof, said extension having an internally threaded bore.

5. An aspirating cartridge within said tube, a sealing diaphragm at the bottom end of said cartridge, a slidable plunger within the top end of said cartridge bearing means at the upper end of the tube, a piston rod slidable in said bearing means, means on said rod for releasably connecting the plunger to said rod, a bottom closure member at the bottom of said tube, a needle adaptor means carried by said bottom closure member, said needle adaptor means including a double-pointed hollow needle passing upwardly through the bottom closure member for piercing the diaphragm of the cartridge, said bottom closure member having an externally threaded portion, a hollow auxiliary tube open at both ends and having an internally threaded upper end Screwed onto said externally threaded portion, an inverted cartridge, said auxiliary tube at the bottom end thereof having means toreceive and frictionally retain said inverted cartridge, said inverted cartridge having a diaphragm closure at the upper end thereof and a plunger at the bottom end thereof with the bottom of saidfirst needle piercing said inverted cartridge diaphragm, a hollow tube fixedly carried by the inverted cartridge plunger, said tube terminating near the upper end thereof, said tube at the bottom end thereof having an internally threaded enlargement adapted to be screwed onto said externally threaded extension of said piston rod, and a second separable hollow needle piercing said inverted cartridge plunger whereby to permit air to escape from said inverted cartridge plunger upon injection through said firs-t needle into said inverted cartridge of liquid from the cartridge within said hollow tube.

6. An aspirating cartridge syringe according to claim 5, said auxiliary tube having an inwardly extending flange adapted to abut the'u-pper end of said inverted cartridge whereby to retain the same in spaced relation to said adaptor means.

7. In an aspirating cart-ridge syringe, a tube adapted to receive a cartridge having a closure at its bottom end and a slidable plunger at its top end, a rod reciprocally movable within said tube and projecting outwardly therefrom at one end thereof, hand-engageable means adjacent said one end of the tube and on the projecting portion of the rod, and a pair of threaded means on the inner end of the rod, one for engaging male and one for engaging female threaded elements of cartridge plungers.

8. The combination recited in claim 7, wherein said pair of threaded means comprises an externally threaded member on the inner end of said rod and extending inwardly therefrom and having an internally threaded opening.

9. The combination recited in claim 8, wherein said rod, said threaded member, and the threaded opening in the latter are coaxial.

10. The combination recited in claim 8, wherein a portion of said rod is externally threaded adjacent the inner end thereof, and an internally threaded sleeve in threaded engagement with said threaded rod portion, said sleeve being thereby adjustably movable axially of the rod to selectably position the inner end of the sleeve either outwardly of the inner end of said threaded member or in a common plane with said inner end of the threaded member in which latter position the inner ends of both the sleeve and the threaded member cooperate to provide an abutment means for engaging cartridge plungers of the type devoid of threaded connecting elements.

11. In a syringe as recited in claim 8, a sleeve, and means mounting the sleeve on the inner end of the rod for movement axially thereof to selectably position the inner end of the sleeve in a, desired relation with respect to the inner end of said threaded member.

12. -In an aspirating cartridge syringe, a tube adapted to receive a cartridge having a closure at its bottom end and a slidable plunger at its top end, a rod reciprocally movable within said tube and projecting outwardly therefrom at one end thereof a pair of hand-engageable means adjacent said one end of the tube and on the projecting portion of the rod, said rod having a threaded inner end, an externally threaded member of reduced diameter on the inner end of said rod and extending inwardly therefrom, a sleeve surrounding said rods lower end and said threaded member, and threaded means mounting the sleeve on the threaded inner end of the rod for movement axially thereof to selectably position the inner end of the sleeve in a desired relation with respect to the inner end of said threaded member,

13. In an aspirating cartridge syringe, a tube adapted to receive a cartridge having a closure at its bottom end and a slidable plunger at its top end, a rod reciprocally movable within said tube and projecting outwardly therefrom at one end thereof, a pair of hand-engageable means adjacent said one end of the tube and on the projecting portion of the rod, saidrod having an externally threaded inner end, an internally threaded member of reduced diameter on the inner end of said rod and extending inwardly therefrom, a sleeve surrounding said rod lower externally threaded end and said threaded member, and

.threaded means mounting the sleeve on the threaded inner end of the rod for movement axially thereof to selectably position the inner end of the sleeve in a desired relation with respect to the inner end of said internally threaded member.

14. In an aspirating cartridge syringe, a tube, a first cartridge received therein and having a closure at its bottom end and a slidable plunger at its top end, a rod reciprocally movable within said tube and projecting outwardly therefrom at one end thereof, a pair of handengageable means adjacent said one end of the tube and on the projecting portion of the rod, an auxiliary member, means for securing said auxiliary member to the end of said tube opposite said one end thereof, a second cartridge, said auxiliary member having means for mounting said second cartridge in axial alignment with said tube, and outwardly of the latter, and a hollow needle secured to and extending through the lower end of said tube and having opposite open ends for communicating with the first cartridge in said tube and the second cartridge mounted on said auxiliary member.

15. In a syringe as recited in claim 14, said securing means comprising interengaging threaded means on said auxiliary member and said lower end of the tube.

16. In a syringe as recited in claim 15, said auxiliary member having a hollow cylindrical configuration, said threaded means being at one end of said auxiliary member, the opposite end of the latter being open to receive said second cartridge.

17. In a syringe, a hollow tube, a cartridge within said tube, said cartridge having a reduced neck at one end, and being formed with a flange at the outer end of the neck, a diaphragm contacting the lower face of said flange, a cap receiving said diaphragm and flange and having a portion lying flat against and engaging the back of the flange for holding the diaphragm against said face of said flange, a member formed with a socket supportingly receiving said cap, said member being formed with an opening coaxial with the cartridge, a needle passing through said through coaxial opening and having one end passing through said cap and diaphragm and communicating with the interior of said cartridge, the other end of the needle extending outwardly beyond said member, said member having means to close the opening at one end of said tube, and means .to retain said member and cartridge against movement relative to said tube, said socket being of uniform inner transverse cross-section, said cap being of uniform outer transverse cross-section and having a telescoping, contacting sliding fit with the inner surface of said socket, longitudinally, at least as far out as the tip of said one end of said needle, said member having an external screw threaded portion, an adaptor screwed thereto, and a second cartridge having one end slidably received within one end of said adaptor, said second cartridge having a reduced neck portion closed diaphragm, a cap attaching said diaphragm to said second cartridge, and the opposite end of said needle passing through the cap and diaphragm of the second cartridge.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Witkowski June- 14, 1904 Friedman Oct. 26, 1926- Smith Nov. 16, 1926 Smith June 25, 1929 Smith June 25, 1929 Smith June 25, 1929 Cressler Mar. 31, 1931 Heineman July 24, 1934 May July 9, 1935 Ericson'et a]. Oct. 15', 1935 Goldberg Nov. 12, 1935 Curtis Nov. 26, 1935' Smith May 9, 1939 Pittenger Oct. 10, 1939 12 UNITED STATES PATENTS Nevin, Mar. 12, 1940 Douglas Jan. 26, 1943 Lockhart Apr. 8, 1952 Brown July 28, 1953 Brown et al. Aug. 11, 1953 Huber Sept. 14, 1954 Brown Mar. 13, 1956 Goldberg May 15, 1956 Friedman Jan. 22, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Apr. 20, 1904 Great Britain Sept. 7, 1945 Great'Britain Oct. 27, 1948 Great Britain Mar. 30, 1949 France Sept. 12, 1949 

1. AN ASPIRATING CARTRIDGE SYRINGE COMPRISING A HOLLOW TUBE, A CARTRIDGE WITHIN SAID TUBE, A SEALING DIAPHRAGM AT THE BOTTOM END OF SAID CARTRIDGE, A SLIDABLE PLUNGER WITHIN THE TOP END OF SAID CARTRIDGE, BEARING MEANS AT THE UPPER END OF THE TUBE, A PISTON ROD SLIDABLE IN SAID BEARING MEANS, MEANS ON SAID ROD FOR RELEASABLY CONNECTING THE PLUNGER TO SAID ROD, A BOTTOM CLOSURE MEMBER AT THE BOTTOM OF SAID TUBE, A NEEDLE ADAPTOR MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BOTTOM CLOSURE MEMBER, SAID NEEDLE ADAPTOR MEANS INCLUDING A DOUBLE-POINTED HOLLOW NEEDLE PASSING UPWARDLY THROUGH THE BOTTOM CLOSURE MEMBER FOR PIERCING THE DIAPHRAGM OF THE CARTRIDGE, AN AUXILIARY TUBE OPEN AT BOTH ENDS AND REMOVABLY CARRIED BY SAID CLOSURE MEMBER, SAID AUXILIARY TUBE AT THE UPPER END THEREOF RECEIVING SAID NEEDLE ADAPTOR MEANS THEREWITHIN, SAID AUXILIARY TUBE AT THE BOTTOM END THEREOF RECEIVING AND RETAINING AN INVERTED CARTRIDGE HAVING A SEALING DIAPHRAGM AT THE UPPER END THEREOF AND A PLUNGER AT THE BOTTOM END THEREOF WITH THE BOTTOM OF SAID NEEDLE PIERCING SAID INVERTED CARTRIDGE DIAPHRAGM, AND HOLLOW PUNCTURING MEANS PIERCING SAID INVERTED CARTRIDGE PLUNGER WHEREBY TO PERMIT AIR TO ESCAPE FROM SAID INVERTED CARTRIDGE PLUNGER UPON INJECTION THROUGH SAID NEEDLE INTO SAID INVERTED CARTRIDGE OF LIQUID FROM THE CARTRIDGE WITHIN SAID HOLLOW TUBE.
 7. IN AN ASPIRATING CARTRIDGE SYRINGE, A TUBE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A CARTRIDGE HAVING A CLOSURE AT ITS BOTTOM END AND A SLIDABLE PLUNGER AT ITS TOP END, A ROD RECIPROCALLY MOVABLE WITHIN SAID TUBE AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM AT ONE END THEREOF, HAND-ENGAGEABLE MEANS ADJACENT SAID ONE END OF THE TUBE AND ON THE PROJECTING PORTION OF THE ROD, AND A PAIR OF THREADED MEANS ON THE INNER END OF THE ROD, ONE FOR ENGAGING MALE AND ONE FOR ENGAGING FEMALE THREADED ELEMENTS OF CARTRIDGE PLUNGERS. 